“Serena, I''m warning you stay away from my daughter. If I hear you filling Evelyn''s head with nonsense again, you''ll regret it."


    Serena gave a littleugh. "You seem to forget, Eleanor. You may have custody, but Evelyn is still a Goodwin."


    "Try me," Eleanor shot back, her eyes icy with resolve. The fierce protectiveness in her voice made Serena hesitate for a split second, but she quickly recovered, refusing to back down. "You think you can threaten me just because you''ve gotten a little bolder? My brother will marry Vanessa sooner orter, and when that happens-"


    A cold male voice cut her off from behind. "And what then? nning to steal her child?"


    Serena jumped, startled to find Xavier standing right behind her. He strode to Eleanor''s side, slipping one hand in his pocket, his gaze sharp and condescending as he looked Serena up and down. "Miss Goodwin, you might want to think before you speak. Would you dare say those things in front of your brother?"


    Serena''s face flushed with panic, her lips pressed in a tight line. "Xavier..."


    "I can''t imagine the Goodwin family is desperate enough to let you speak for them. Is your brother so busy at work he can''t keep you in line?" Xavier''s eyes were cold and unyielding.


    Serena''s fingers tightened around her purse strap. "I''m only speaking for myself. This has nothing to do with my brother."


    "Eleanor was your sister-inw once, after all. Is this really how you speak to family?" Xavier''s tone was stern. He''d watched Serena grow up, and in his heart, he''d always regarded her like a little sister.


    Now, all he felt was disappointment and anger.


    Serena looked up and saw the frosty disappointment on Xavier''s face. Her eyes brimmed with frustrated tears. "Xavier, why do you always take her side? She''s the one who keeps chasing after my brother-"


    "Is it really Eleanor chasing after your brother, or is it the other way around? You''d better get your facts straight before you start making usations." Xavier''s voice was cool and direct. "But if you harass Eleanor again, or say one more word to Evelyn-"


    Serena''s blush crept all the way to her ears. She knew exactly what incident he meant: thest time she''d tried to make Evelyn call him ''uncle.'' She bit her lip, visibly shaken, on the verge of tears.


    Xavier turned away, his expression softening as he looked at Eleanor. "Let''s go pick up your daughter."


    Eleanor nodded, giving Serena a final, dismissive nce before walking off with Xavier toward the school entrance.


    Serena watched them go, side by side, her eyes dark with resentment. She whirled around, slid into her sports car, and mmed her foot on the gas, speeding away.


    As they walked, Eleanor turned to Xavier. "Thank you for stepping in."


    "She needed a reality check," Xavier replied with a weary sigh. "Asn''s friend, I can''t just let his sister keep behaving this way."


    Eleanor knew Serena had always been close to Vanessa, and that her resentment ran deep. Everything Serena did now was for Vanessa''s sake. Most things, Eleanor could ignore-but if Serena ever let Vanessa near her daughter again, she wouldn''t stand for it.


    At seven that evening, Henry had secured a reservation at an upscale private kitchen.<pn arrived right on time. Henry spotted him from across the room and waved him over.n crossed the elegant dining room to join him.